The enrollment period for Access Health CT begins at midnight on November 1, but the CEO is suggesting you defer taking any action.

“In case Congress extends the enhanced subsidies,” CEO James Michel said.

It’s the issue at the heart of the federal government shutdown. The increases come as enhanced federal subsidies, which have helped lower monthly premiums since the COVID-19 pandemic, are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Lawmakers in Congress have not agreed on whether to extend them.

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal said that the government can’t be reopened without assurances that those subsidies will be extended.

At a news conference Friday, Blumenthal said people enrolling need to know what they’re signing up for.

“They need the assurance now that that insurance will be affordable,” Blumenthal said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said Thursday that lawmakers were “always planning to have the debate about Covid-era subsidies and all those other issues in October, November, December.”

“The Covid-era subsidies don’t expire until the end of December. There are all sorts of discussions going on about that, all kinds of ideas,” he said.

Caught in the middle of the shutdown are residents waiting to know what the cost of their healthcare will be.

Connecticut resident Rachel, who asked that we not share her last name, works at a nonprofit museum. She received a letter this month indicating her premium will jump from $449 to $883.

She said her premium will rise to equal more than a one week’s paycheck.

At the press conference, Rachel said she is deciding between the following options:

Go without health insurance

Cover the premium with a second job

Cover the premium with her savings

Change to a less comprehensive plan

Leave her job to find one with better insurance coverage

Access Health CT’s ultimate concern, CEO James Michel said, is those who will choose to exit the market and go uninsured.

“About 35% (of people current insured) will go uninsured over the next 5 years if these subsidies are not extended,” Michel said Access Health CT projects.

For now, the enrollment window will open, and brokers are available to talk with residents at no cost about their options.

However, when it comes to enrolling, Michel recommends waiting until December 15 at the latest for January 1 coverage. It’s possible the federal government addresses the issue, and the cost of coverage will change.